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Controller boards

MCU and SBC boards that generate control signals, read sensors, and run robot software — Arduino, ESP32, Raspberry Pi, Teensy, and competition controllers.

← Back to AtlasComponents & Parts
COMPONENTS DIRECTORY//PART::CONTROLLER-BOARDS
Qualitative pricing onlyWidely availableProcurement: LowOvernight availability: needs live supplier verificationSource: Partially verified
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Controller boards category hero

Verified media required — not AI product evidence. Photo Archivist / official sources only.

Placeholder — final asset pending

EVERY PAGE ANSWERS

  1. 01What it is
  2. 02What it does
  3. 03Who makes it
  4. 04Who sells it
  5. 05What it costs
  6. 06How hard it is to get
  7. 07What it works with
  8. 08What can go wrong
Jump toOverview·Specs·Applications·Suppliers·Pricing·Compatibility·Emergency sourcing·Buyer notes

A printed circuit board with a microcontroller or single-board computer, voltage regulators, I/O headers, and often USB — the compute and GPIO layer of a robot.

The controller board is the robot's brain — it runs your code and sends signals to motors and servos, but it usually needs separate driver boards to move big motors safely.

MCU boards offer deterministic GPIO and hardware timers for PWM; SBCs offer Linux and vision at the cost of hard real-time unless you offload motion to a coprocessor or MCU.

Runs control loops, reads sensors, commands servos and drivers, and hosts firmware or ROS nodes depending on platform.

  • →PWM servo multiplexing
  • →I2C/SPI sensor aggregation
  • →Wi-Fi teleop on ESP32
  • →ROS 2 on Raspberry Pi
  • →Competition autonomous periods
  • •Arduino-class edu robots
  • •ESP32 mobile and arm kits
  • •Raspberry Pi ROS prototypes
  • •FTC/FRC/VEX competition robots
  • •Research testbeds before industrial controllers
Qualitative spec selection guide — not live product values. Verify exact numbers on the manufacturer datasheet before ordering.

SKU-level comparison is not available yet — use this table to decide what to verify before ordering.

14 selection specs · 9 key for buying decisions

SpecWhy it mattersBuyer warning

Processor / MCU

Key selection spec

8-bit AVR to multi-core ARM / x86 SBC

Compute headroom for control loops and vision.SBC ≠ hard real-time motor controller without architecture.

Clock speed

Optional detail
Loop rate and peripheral timing.Marketing clock ≠ usable control bandwidth.

RAM / memory

Optional detail
ROS, vision, and buffer sizes on SBCs.Underspec Pi RAM for vision stacks.

GPIO count

Key selection spec
Sensors, drivers, and interrupts needed.Count usable pins after strapping/reserved.

PWM outputs

Key selection spec
One hardware PWM per servo unless expander.

Beginner: Count servos vs hardware timer channels on the pinout.

Bit-banged PWM jitters on holding torque.

ADC inputs

Optional detail
Analog sensors and current sense.Reference voltage affects readings.

UART / I2C / SPI / CAN / USB

Key selection spec
Sensor and smart actuator bus compatibility.Pi may need level shifters on 5 V buses.

Logic voltage

V

Key selection spec

3.3 V logic; 5 V tolerant pins vary

Must match peripherals and drivers.3.3 V MCU with 5 V-only sensors needs shifter.

Input voltage (VIN)

V

Key selection spec

USB 5 V; VIN 7–12 V common on MCUs

Regulator heat and mobile battery range.VIN is not a servo power rail.

Current limits

Key selection spec

GPIO mA; 5 V rail often <1 A

Onboard rails cannot feed servos/motors.

Beginner: The board brain is not the robot power plant — plan separate rails.

Servo stall through 5 V pin resets board.

Software support

Key selection spec
Library ecosystem and team skill fit.Closed competition ecosystems limit libraries.

Arduino / Python / C++

Optional detail
Development path and examples.Verify core support for clone boards.

ROS support

Optional detail
Research stacks on SBCs; micro-ROS on MCUs.ROS on Pi still needs motor offload for timing.

Documentation quality

Key selection spec
Debug time dominates small projects.Missing errata on pin conflicts wastes hours.

Processor / MCU

Key selection specSource: general guidance

8-bit AVR to multi-core ARM / x86 SBC

Compute headroom for control loops and vision.

SBC ≠ hard real-time motor controller without architecture.

Clock speed

Optional detailSource: general guidance

Loop rate and peripheral timing.

Marketing clock ≠ usable control bandwidth.

RAM / memory

Optional detailSource: general guidance

ROS, vision, and buffer sizes on SBCs.

Underspec Pi RAM for vision stacks.

GPIO count

Key selection specSource: general guidance

Sensors, drivers, and interrupts needed.

Count usable pins after strapping/reserved.

PWM outputs

Key selection specSource: general guidance

One hardware PWM per servo unless expander.

Bit-banged PWM jitters on holding torque.

Beginner: Count servos vs hardware timer channels on the pinout.

ADC inputs

Optional detailSource: general guidance

Analog sensors and current sense.

Reference voltage affects readings.

UART / I2C / SPI / CAN / USB

Key selection specSource: general guidance

Sensor and smart actuator bus compatibility.

Pi may need level shifters on 5 V buses.

Logic voltage

V

Key selection specSource: general guidance

3.3 V logic; 5 V tolerant pins vary

Must match peripherals and drivers.

3.3 V MCU with 5 V-only sensors needs shifter.

Input voltage (VIN)

V

Key selection specSource: general guidance

USB 5 V; VIN 7–12 V common on MCUs

Regulator heat and mobile battery range.

VIN is not a servo power rail.

Current limits

Key selection specSource: general guidance

GPIO mA; 5 V rail often <1 A

Onboard rails cannot feed servos/motors.

Servo stall through 5 V pin resets board.

Beginner: The board brain is not the robot power plant — plan separate rails.

Software support

Key selection specSource: general guidance

Library ecosystem and team skill fit.

Closed competition ecosystems limit libraries.

Arduino / Python / C++

Optional detailSource: general guidance

Development path and examples.

Verify core support for clone boards.

ROS support

Optional detailSource: general guidance

Research stacks on SBCs; micro-ROS on MCUs.

ROS on Pi still needs motor offload for timing.

Documentation quality

Key selection specSource: general guidance

Debug time dominates small projects.

Missing errata on pin conflicts wastes hours.

Additional key specs (seed data)

MCU / processor

8-bit AVR to multi-core ARM / x86 SBC

Determines compute headroom for control loops and vision.

I/O count

Digital, analog, interrupt-capable pins

One PWM per servo unless PCA9685 or similar co-processor.

PWM outputs

Hardware timers vs bit-banged

Jitter affects servo holding; hardware PWM preferred.

Motor driver support

Often external — onboard only on integrated shields

Do not drive wheel motors directly from GPIO.

Voltage input

USB 5 V, VIN 7–12 V, 3.3 V logic rails

Regulator heat and servo rail separation.

Current limits

Per-pin mA; total 3.3 V / 5 V rail amps

Servo stall current must not flow through MCU regulator.

Communication ports

UART, I2C, SPI, CAN, USB

Sensor and smart servo bus compatibility.

Software support

Arduino, MicroPython, ESP-IDF, ROS 2

Library ecosystem speeds integration.

ROS compatibility

Native on SBCs; micro-ROS on MCUs

Research stacks vs bare-metal timing.

Documentation quality

Pinout clarity, examples, errata

Debug time dominates small projects.

  • Separate power for servos vs logic
  • Hardware PWM channel count
  • Logic level (3.3 V vs 5 V tolerant)
  • Real-time needs vs Linux SBC
  • ROS support if using Nav2 / MoveIt

Prices vary by model, supplier, quantity, availability, and shipping speed. EAR pricing bands are guidance only unless tied to a sourced product record. Verify current pricing before ordering.

Prices vary by model, supplier, quantity, availability, and shipping speed. EAR pricing bands are guidance only unless tied to a sourced product record. Verify current pricing before ordering.

Basic microcontroller boards

basic_mcu

Pricing target: needs sourced range
Qualitative guidance onlyNeeds review

Entry MCU boards anchor many student and maker robots. Official board vs clone, header population, and regional shipping dominate perceived cost.

Typical buyer

Makers, coursework, simple motor/sensor prototypes.

Examples

Arduino Uno/Nano class, ESP32 dev kits, STM32 Nucleo-style boards.

What affects cost

  • →Official vs clone board
  • →On-board sensors and wireless module
  • →Header soldered vs bare
  • →Distributor vs marketplace seller

Price usually excludes

power supplycontroller/drivercables/connectorsmounting hardwareshippingtaxes/tariffssoftware/licenseintegration timesupport/warranty plan

Buyer caution

Clone boards may differ in USB chip, voltage regulator, or pinout docs. Verify before assuming tutorial compatibility.

Source basis

Category-level qualitative guidance — no SKU-linked distributor band yet.

Open research gaps

  • Sourced USD band — Arduino/ESP32-class dev boards — No sourced numeric band in EAR. Next: Distributor listing spot-check (Digi-Key, Mouser, Pololu, OEM)

Verify current pricing with supplier before ordering.

Robotics controller boards

robotics_controller

Pricing target: needs sourced range
Qualitative guidance onlyNeeds review

Purpose-built robotics controllers combine motor outputs, servo headers, and sometimes IMU or RC inputs. Price scales with channel count and onboard power regulation.

Typical buyer

Competition teams, mobile robot builders, RC-to-autonomous conversions.

Examples

RoboClaw-adjacent hosts, dedicated multi-motor robot shields, competition control hubs.

What affects cost

  • →Motor/servo channel count and current capacity
  • →Onboard IMU, RC input, or telemetry
  • →Vendor support and firmware maturity
  • →Bundle vs bare board

Price usually excludes

power supplycontroller/drivercables/connectorsmounting hardwareshippingtaxes/tariffssoftware/licenseintegration timesupport/warranty plan

Buyer caution

Channel current sums matter more than board headline price. Confirm your worst-case stall current fits the board and external power plan.

Source basis

Category-level qualitative guidance — no SKU-linked distributor band yet.

Open research gaps

  • Sourced USD band — multi-motor robotics controller boards — No sourced numeric band in EAR. Next: Distributor listing spot-check (Digi-Key, Mouser, Pololu, OEM)

Verify current pricing with supplier before ordering.

Single-board computers

sbc

Pricing target: needs sourced range
Qualitative guidance onlyNeeds review

SBCs for robots (Pi-class, Jetson-adjacent at lower tiers) vary by RAM, wireless, and authorized vs gray-market availability.

Typical buyer

ROS learners, vision rovers, edge nodes running Linux.

Examples

Raspberry Pi class, other ARM SBCs used as robot brains.

What affects cost

  • →RAM and wireless variant
  • →Authorized distributor vs marketplace scalper pricing
  • →Kit vs board-only
  • →Regional supply constraints

Price usually excludes

power supplycontroller/drivercables/connectorsmounting hardwareshippingtaxes/tariffssoftware/licenseintegration timesupport/warranty planmicroSD/storagecamera moduleactive cooling kit

Buyer caution

Marketplace SBC pricing swings with supply cycles. Verify authorized seller and model revision — not all SBCs run the same ROS stack out of the box.

Source basis

Category-level qualitative guidance — no SKU-linked distributor band yet.

Open research gaps

  • Sourced USD band — Raspberry Pi / ARM SBC robotics hosts — No sourced numeric band in EAR. Next: Distributor listing spot-check (Digi-Key, Mouser, Pololu, OEM)

Verify current pricing with supplier before ordering.

Edge AI / vision compute boards

edge_ai

Pricing target: needs sourced range
Qualitative guidance onlyNeeds review

GPU/NPU-capable edge boards carry higher unit cost plus camera, carrier, and power accessories. Software stack and cooling often exceed board BOM in integration time.

Typical buyer

Perception-heavy robots, AMR prototypes, research platforms.

Examples

Jetson-class modules with carrier boards, Coral/USB accelerators on host SBCs.

What affects cost

  • →Compute tier (module vs dev kit)
  • →Carrier, camera, and storage bundle
  • →Power supply wattage class
  • →Enterprise vs dev-kit channel

Price usually excludes

power supplycontroller/drivercables/connectorsmounting hardwareshippingtaxes/tariffssoftware/licenseintegration timesupport/warranty plancamera modulecarrier boardactive coolingAI software licenses

Buyer caution

Dev kit pricing does not equal production module pricing. Confirm thermal and power budget before treating dev-kit cost as BOM.

Source basis

Category-level qualitative guidance — no SKU-linked distributor band yet.

Open research gaps

  • Sourced USD band — Jetson/Coral-class edge AI kits — No sourced numeric band in EAR. Next: Distributor listing spot-check (Digi-Key, Mouser, Pololu, OEM)

Verify current pricing with supplier before ordering.

Industrial controllers / PLC-adjacent

industrial_plc

Pricing target: needs sourced range
Qualitative guidance onlyNeeds review

PLC, PAC, and industrial IPC pricing is quote-driven with I/O modules, licensing, and safety architecture. EAR does not publish bands without sourced distributor or OEM records.

Typical buyer

Factory automation integrators, machine OEMs, certified safety systems.

Examples

PLC CPUs with I/O racks, industrial IPCs, safety-rated controllers.

What affects cost

  • →Safety rating and SIL/PL class
  • →I/O count and fieldbus modules
  • →Software licenses and support contracts
  • →Volume and integrator channel

Price usually excludes

power supplycontroller/drivercables/connectorsmounting hardwareshippingtaxes/tariffssoftware/licenseintegration timesupport/warranty planI/O modulessafety PLC licensingengineering commissioning

Buyer caution

Do not compare industrial controller quotes to maker board listings. Lifecycle, certification, and spare support dominate TCO.

Source basis

Category-level qualitative guidance — no OEM quote verified in EAR.

Open research gaps

  • Sourced USD band — entry industrial PLC/IPC bundles — No sourced numeric band in EAR. Next: Distributor listing spot-check (Digi-Key, Mouser, Pololu, OEM)

Verify current pricing with supplier before ordering.

Representative product records for orientation — not endorsements.

EAR compatibility guidance is category-level unless a specific product record is sourced. Always verify voltage, current, connectors, signal type, documentation, and manufacturer limits before ordering.

EAR compatibility guidance is category-level unless a specific product record is sourced. Always verify voltage, current, connectors, signal type, documentation, and manufacturer limits before ordering.
General guidanceConfidence: mediumSource: partially verified

Build chains

Controller board chain

Controller boards→Sensors→Motor drivers→Servos→Communication modules→Power regulation
  • →Board logic voltage matters.
  • →I/O count matters.
  • →PWM, UART, I2C, SPI, CAN, USB support matters.
  • →Raspberry Pi-style SBCs often need motor driver hats/boards.
  • →Arduino/ESP32-style boards are good for direct hardware control but have different compute limits.

Works with

Motor drivers →Servos →

Required companion parts

  • →Motor drivers for DC/stepper wheel motors (not for integrated hobby servos)
  • →Separate power regulation for servo/motor rails
  • →USB cable or programming adapter

Optional companion parts

  • →Sensors (IMU, encoders, cameras)
  • →Communication modules (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, CAN hat)
  • →Level shifters for mixed 3.3 V / 5 V peripherals

Common interfaces

GPIO headersArduino shield headersUSBRaspberry Pi HAT
PWMI2CSPIUARTCAN (on specialized boards)USB serial

Voltage / current / power

  • →Board logic voltage matters — 3.3 V vs 5 V tolerant pins
  • →VIN range for mobile robots often 6–24 V through onboard regulator
  • →Do not assume VIN can feed servos directly
  • →GPIO ~20–40 mA per pin — not motor current
  • →Onboard 5 V/3.3 V rails often <1 A total
  • →Servo stall current must not flow through MCU regulator
  • →Raspberry Pi-style SBCs often need motor driver HATs/boards
  • →Arduino/ESP32-style boards good for direct hardware control but have compute limits
  • →Separate BEC/buck for actuators is standard practice

Software & controller

  • →Arduino, PlatformIO, MicroPython, ESP-IDF ecosystem
  • →ROS 2 on SBCs; micro-ROS on MCUs — not hard real-time on Pi alone
  • →I/O count, PWM channels, and library support drive board choice

Mechanical

  • →Form factor (Uno, Mega, credit-card SBC) affects enclosure
  • →HAT/shield stacking height and connector access

Buyer mismatch warnings

  • Driving wheel motors directly from GPIO without a driver
  • Powering servos from board 5 V regulator on multi-servo builds
  • Pi-only stack without PWM co-processor for multi-joint arms
  • Clone boards with incorrect regulators or pinout errors

Emergency substitution notes

  • →Match PWM pin count, logic voltage, and programming cable before buying substitute board
  • →Verify motor driver compatibility with chosen GPIO pins

Open research gaps

  • PWM channel count matrix per board class · Partial
Product-specific compatibility still needs verification.

Full cross-component view: Compatibility overview

EAR does not currently verify live stock or delivery speed. Use this guide to avoid ordering the wrong part, then verify stock, shipping, compatibility, and datasheets with the supplier before purchase.

EAR does not currently verify live stock or delivery speed. Use this guide to avoid ordering the wrong part, then verify stock, shipping, compatibility, and datasheets with the supplier before purchase.
Guide: general guidanceNeeds live supplier check

Urgency summary

A rush-purchased board fails when PWM count, logic voltage, software stack, or form factor do not match what the robot already expects.

Check stock and shipping live before ordering.

Urgent questions

  • →What processor/controller family does the project expect?
  • →How many PWM/GPIO/I2C/SPI/UART/CAN ports are needed?
  • →What voltage logic level is required?
  • →Does the project need Arduino, Python, ROS, or vendor library support?
  • →Does it need Wi-Fi/Bluetooth?
  • →Does it need to fit an existing shield/HAT/carrier?
  • →Does it need same-day/local pickup?

Non-negotiable specs

  • →Processor / controller family expected by project
  • →GPIO, PWM, I2C, SPI, UART, and CAN port count as needed
  • →Logic voltage (3.3 V vs 5 V tolerant)
  • →Arduino, Python, ROS, or vendor library support
  • →Programming cable / USB connector
  • →Shield, HAT, or carrier form-factor fit
  • →Motor driver interface compatibility with chosen pins

Acceptable substitutions (category-level)

  • →Board with more GPIO/PWM than minimum if libraries match
  • →Teensy for tighter timing if pinout and voltage fit
  • →ESP32 when Wi-Fi teleop needed and pins sufficient

Dangerous substitutions

  • Replacing Arduino-compatible board with SBC without matching libraries
  • Wrong logic voltage
  • Not enough PWM outputs
  • No driver/library support
  • Missing USB/programming cable
  • Assuming board can power motors directly

Suppliers to check first

Digi-Key · supplier targetMouser Electronics · supplier targetSparkFun · supplier targetAdafruit · supplier targetPololu · supplier targetMicro Center · supplier targetAmazon · marketplace caution
Full supplier directory →

Local pickup targets (verify stock)

  • →Micro Center — Pi/Arduino/ESP32; verify store stock online before driving

Marketplace cautions

  • →Amazon: clone boards may have wrong regulators or pin conflicts
  • →Verify seller ships genuine board with documented pinout

Before you order

  • →Download pinout and schematic before purchase
  • →Confirm motor driver compatibility with chosen GPIO pins
  • →Buy USB cable rated for Pi/SBC current if applicable
  • →Plan separate BEC/rail for servos — not MCU 5 V pin

After arrival — bench test

  • →Flash blink example before wiring actuators
  • →Verify PWM on one pin with servo or scope
  • →Check 3.3 V/5 V rails under expected load

If you get it wrong

  • →Cannot generate enough PWM channels
  • →Brownout when servos move
  • →GPIO damage from back-driving motors
  • →Software stack incompatible with team codebase

Open research gaps

  • Same-day store inventory · Not live in EAR

Arduino Uno: easy PWM servos, limited RAM. ESP32: Wi-Fi + RTOS, watch pin strapping. Raspberry Pi: vision/ROS, add HAT for PWM and drivers. Match logic levels to sensors and drivers.

7 manufacturers tracked — expand for chips and dossier links.

Arduino→· needs source reviewRaspberry Pi→· needs source reviewEspressif (ESP32)→· needs source reviewPJRC (Teensy)→· needs source reviewSTMicroelectronics→· needs source reviewREV Robotics→· needs source reviewVEX Robotics→· needs source review

EAR does not currently show live inventory. Always verify stock, shipping speed, compatibility, and authorized-channel status before ordering.

EAR does not currently show live inventory. Always verify stock, shipping speed, compatibility, and authorized-channel status before ordering.

Best sources to check first for controller boards

Edu/hobby retailers carry Arduino, ESP32, and Pi — verify stock before ordering. Micro Center may offer store pickup where locations exist; confirm local inventory live. Competition controllers are ecosystem-specific.

Check first

  • •SparkFun
  • •Adafruit
  • •Pololu
  • •Micro Center

Also check

  • •Digi-Key
  • •Mouser Electronics
  • •Newark
  • •REV Robotics
  • •VEX Robotics

Use with caution

  • •Amazon
  • •AliExpress
  • •eBay

SparkFun

Supplier
Visit websiteSupplier profile
Hobby supplierU.S. shipping: typically availableOvernight: shipping needs live checkAuthorized status unknown

Supported categories

controller boardsmotor driversservossensorskits

Curated edu/hobby boards with tutorials

Buyer caution

Not an industrial authorized distributor for OEM lines

Supplier target

Verify stock and shipping before ordering.

Adafruit

Supplier
Visit websiteSupplier profile
Hobby supplierU.S. shipping: typically availableOvernight: shipping needs live checkAuthorized status unknown

Supported categories

controller boardsmotor driversservossensorspower

Well-documented boards and drivers

Buyer caution

Not suited for heavy industrial actuators

Supplier target

Verify stock and shipping before ordering.

Pololu

Supplier
Visit websiteSupplier profile
Robotics specialistU.S. shipping: typically availableOvernight: shipping needs live checkAuthorized status unknown

Supported categories

servosmotor driverscontroller boardskitsmechanical

Likely category source for hobby servos and motor driver modules

Buyer caution

Not industrial OEM authorized distributor

Supplier target

Verify stock and shipping before ordering.

Micro Center

Supplier
Visit websiteSupplier profile
General retailerU.S. shipping: typically availableOvernight: shipping needs live checkSame-day pickup: store locations onlyAuthorized status unknown

Supported categories

controller boardskits

Same-day pickup where stores exist — verify local stock

Buyer caution

Store footprint limited — not nationwide robotics coverage

Same-day pickup — store stock only

Verify stock and shipping before ordering.

Digi-Key

Supplier
Visit websiteSupplier profile
Authorized distributorU.S. shipping: typically availableOvernight: varies by itemAuthorized: partial — verify by manufacturer

Supported categories

controller boardsmotor driversservosactuatorspowerconnectorssensorslidarcamerasimus

Broad authorized catalog for semiconductors and modules

Buyer caution

Not optimized for hobby servo bundles — check robotics specialists first

Shipping verification needed

Verify stock and shipping before ordering.

Mouser Electronics

Supplier
Visit websiteSupplier profile
Authorized distributorU.S. shipping: typically availableOvernight: varies by itemAuthorized: partial — verify by manufacturer

Supported categories

controller boardsmotor driversservosactuatorspowerconnectorssensorslidarcamerasimus

Wide semiconductor and module selection

Buyer caution

Less hobby-robotics curated than Pololu or ServoCity

Shipping verification needed

Verify stock and shipping before ordering.

REV Robotics

Supplier
Visit websiteSupplier profile
Education / competitionU.S. shipping: typically availableOvernight: shipping needs live checkAuthorized: partial — verify by manufacturer

Supported categories

controller boardsmotor driversservoskits

Competition-legal controllers and motor controllers

Buyer caution

Ecosystem locked to competition rules — not general-purpose only

Competition controllers

Verify stock and shipping before ordering.

VEX Robotics

Supplier
Visit websiteSupplier profile
Education / competitionU.S. shipping: typically availableOvernight: shipping needs live checkAuthorized: partial — verify by manufacturer

Supported categories

controller boardsservosmotor driverskits

Closed ecosystem simplifies compatibility within VEX platforms

Buyer caution

Parts often incompatible outside VEX ecosystem

Closed ecosystem

Verify stock and shipping before ordering.

Amazon

Supplier
Visit websiteSupplier profile
MarketplaceU.S. shipping: typically availableOvernight: varies by itemMarketplace mixed authority

Supported categories

servoscontroller boardsmotor driverskitspower

Fast shipping sometimes available on Prime listings — not guaranteed

Buyer caution

Marketplace mixed authority — Marketplace mixed authority — counterfeit and mislabeled parts are a real risk

Marketplace — verify seller

Verify stock and shipping before ordering.

Browse all suppliers in the Supplier Directory. See what works together in the Compatibility Matrix.

Overnight availability needs live supplier verification. EAR does not track live inventory.

STOCK & SHIPPING

Overnight availability: needs live supplier verification. EAR does not track live inventory.

For rush-order decision checklists, see Emergency sourcing guide above.

Likely supplier targets to check first

See Who sells it above for supplier targets and sourcing guidance — then verify stock and shipping live before ordering.

Emergency sourcing checklist

  • □Confirm PWM pin count vs servo count
  • □Buy compatible motor driver for wheel motors
  • □Separate BEC for servos if using Arduino
  • □Check Micro Center for local Pi/Arduino — verify stock online
  • □Download pinout before leaving store

Brownout from servo current on MCU rail

  • ×Brownout from servo current on MCU rail
  • ×SD card corruption on Pi from hard power cuts
  • ×GPIO burn from back-driving motors
  • ×Wi-Fi dropouts blocking teleop on ESP32 if not handled

Replacement parts risk

Boards are replaceable; custom firmware and wiring harness time is the hidden cost.

SBCs are not real-time motor controllers without careful architecture. Do not power servos from the board's 5 V regulator on multi-servo builds.

SBCs are not real-time motor controllers without careful architecture. Do not power servos from the board's 5 V regulator on multi-servo builds.

  • !Clone boards with incorrect voltage regulators
  • !Pi-only stack without level shifters on 5 V sensors
  • !Underspecifying USB cable for Pi current
  • !Mixing competition legal restrictions without checking rules
  • Industrial PLC / robot OEM controller for production
  • FPGA for specialized I/O

Linked technology library pages for stack context.

Machine vision →SLAM →Motion planning →ROS / MoveIt →
Robot arms →AMRs & AGVs →Educational robotics →
OPEN RESEARCH GAPSBoard taxonomy seeded — SKU pricing pending
pricing

Board class USD bands

CURRENT STATUS

Needs sourced range

NEXT EVIDENCE TARGET

Digi-Key / Adafruit reference listings

sourcing

Servo count per board matrix

CURRENT STATUS

Partial

NEXT EVIDENCE TARGET

PCA9685 and timer channel maps

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Top signals, companies, and market moves across robotics.

These are representative product records and product families for orientation. EAR does not currently verify live stock, current pricing, or final compatibility. Always verify datasheets, supplier stock, and manufacturer limits before ordering.

27 published product records

ctrlX CORE industrial control

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OnRobot · OnRobot · Controller Boards

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Compax3 PROFIBUS connector terminator

Parker Hannifin · Parker Hannifin · Controller Boards

Specs research in progress
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Compax3 communication crossover cable

Parker Hannifin · Parker Hannifin · Controller Boards

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Specs research in progress
Product detailOfficial source

Robotiq URCap integration

Robotiq · Robotiq · Controller Boards

Specs research in progress
Product detailOfficial source

EX124/126 SI unit for valve output

SMC · SMC · Controller Boards

Specs research in progress
Product detailOfficial source

EX260 SI unit fieldbus valve interface

SMC · SMC · Controller Boards

Specs research in progress
Product detailOfficial source

EX600 modular fieldbus platform

SMC · SMC · Controller Boards

Specs research in progress
Product detailOfficial source

TBEN-L-PLC block controller

Turck · Turck · Controller Boards

Specs research in progress
Product detailOfficial source

TBEN-L1-8DXP multiprotocol I/O

Turck · Turck · Controller Boards

Specs research in progress
Product detailOfficial source

TBEN-L4-8DXP digital I/O module

Turck · Turck · Controller Boards

Specs research in progress
Product detailOfficial source

TBEN-L5-8IOL IO-Link master module

Turck · Turck · Controller Boards

Specs research in progress
Product detailOfficial source

TBEN-S-8DXP compact fieldbus module

Turck · Turck · Controller Boards

Specs research in progress
Product detailOfficial source

TBEN-S2-4IOL compact IO-Link master

Turck · Turck · Controller Boards

Specs research in progress
Product detailOfficial source

Representative seed records (orientation only)

Arduino Uno / Mega class

Arduino·Arduino Uno / Mega

Representative record — not an EAR endorsement or buying recommendation.

Source: manufacturer-sourcedPrice: needs researchAvailability: widely available classCompatibility: category guidance only

Entry AVR microcontroller boards — widespread tutorials for hobby robotics I/O.

BEST-FIT USE CASE

Learning robotics, simple sensor/motor I/O, shield-based prototypes.

KEY SPECS (SUMMARY)

Compute
8-bit AVR — limited for vision/ROS
I/O
Digital/PWM pins — motor control often needs shields/drivers
Clones
Pin-compatible clones vary in USB chip and regulator quality

Price: needs sourced record — verify with supplier

Availability needs live check with supplier before ordering.

SUPPLIER TARGETS

Supplier targets are starting points, not guaranteed sellers or live stock.

Browse all product records

Product intelligenceBrowse catalogCompareBOM analyzerEngineering Copilot
SparkFunAdafruitPololuMicro CenterDigi-Key

Category-level MCU host — motor/servo power usually requires separate drivers and supplies.

VERIFY BEFORE BUYING

  • →Confirm exact model number and revision
  • →Verify voltage, torque/force, and connector against your system
  • →Check supplier stock and shipping live — EAR does not track inventory
  • →Read manufacturer limits before load-bearing use
Official product info ↗

OPEN RESEARCH GAPS

  • Uno vs Mega SKU pricing snapshot — Clone vs official identification

Raspberry Pi single-board computer class

Raspberry Pi·Raspberry Pi

Representative record — not an EAR endorsement or buying recommendation.

Source: manufacturer-sourcedPrice: needs researchAvailability: needs live checkCompatibility: category guidance only

Linux SBC host for ROS, vision, and higher-level robot software — not a hard real-time motor controller alone.

BEST-FIT USE CASE

ROS learners, vision rovers, edge nodes needing Linux ecosystem.

KEY SPECS (SUMMARY)

OS
Linux — ROS-capable with setup
Real-time
Not hard real-time for motor PWM without co-processor
Accessories
Often needs HAT, storage, power, cooling

Price: needs sourced record — verify with supplier

Availability needs live check with supplier before ordering.

SUPPLIER TARGETS

Supplier targets are starting points, not guaranteed sellers or live stock.

AdafruitSparkFunMicro CenterDigi-KeyMouser Electronics

Often paired with motor driver HATs or separate MCU for reliable motor timing.

VERIFY BEFORE BUYING

  • →Confirm exact model number and revision
  • →Verify voltage, torque/force, and connector against your system
  • →Check supplier stock and shipping live — EAR does not track inventory
  • →Read manufacturer limits before load-bearing use
Official product info ↗

OPEN RESEARCH GAPS

  • Pi model-specific robotics BOM examples — Authorized channel pricing snapshot

ESP32 development board class

Espressif / module vendors·ESP32 dev kits

Representative record — not an EAR endorsement or buying recommendation.

Source: manufacturer-sourcedPrice: needs researchAvailability: widely available classCompatibility: category guidance only

Wi-Fi/BLE capable MCU boards for teleop, IoT robotics, and lightweight control loops.

BEST-FIT USE CASE

Wi-Fi teleop rovers, sensor nodes, projects needing wireless without full SBC.

KEY SPECS (SUMMARY)

Wireless
Wi-Fi / BLE on ESP32-class
GPIO
Watch pin strapping and ADC limits
Servo PWM
Possible with care — power rail separate

Price: needs sourced record — verify with supplier

Availability needs live check with supplier before ordering.

SUPPLIER TARGETS

Supplier targets are starting points, not guaranteed sellers or live stock.

AdafruitSparkFunDigi-KeyMouser ElectronicsAmazon

Good for wireless control; verify pin maps and motor driver logic voltage.

VERIFY BEFORE BUYING

  • →Confirm exact model number and revision
  • →Verify voltage, torque/force, and connector against your system
  • →Check supplier stock and shipping live — EAR does not track inventory
  • →Read manufacturer limits before load-bearing use
Official product info ↗

OPEN RESEARCH GAPS

  • Representative ESP32 robotics board SKU — Logic level compatibility notes per board

Adafruit Feather ecosystem

Adafruit·Feather / FeatherWing

Representative record — not an EAR endorsement or buying recommendation.

Source: manufacturer-sourcedPrice: needs researchAvailability: specialized channelsCompatibility: category guidance only

Compact MCU boards with stackable FeatherWing peripherals — popular in small robots.

BEST-FIT USE CASE

Small mobile robots, wearable robotics, compact sensor+motor prototypes.

KEY SPECS (SUMMARY)

Form factor
Feather + FeatherWing stacking
Variants
ESP32, nRF52840, M0, etc. — pick for wireless/compute needs
Motor control
Often via Motor FeatherWing or external driver

Price: needs sourced record — verify with supplier

Availability needs live check with supplier before ordering.

SUPPLIER TARGETS

Supplier targets are starting points, not guaranteed sellers or live stock.

Adafruit

Ecosystem-specific stacking — verify Feather variant matches your wireless and compute needs.

VERIFY BEFORE BUYING

  • →Confirm exact model number and revision
  • →Verify voltage, torque/force, and connector against your system
  • →Check supplier stock and shipping live — EAR does not track inventory
  • →Read manufacturer limits before load-bearing use
Official product info ↗

OPEN RESEARCH GAPS

  • Feather motor wing pairing examples — SKU pricing snapshot

SparkFun RedBoard / Artemis class

SparkFun·RedBoard / Artemis

Representative record — not an EAR endorsement or buying recommendation.

Source: manufacturer-sourcedPrice: needs researchAvailability: specialized channelsCompatibility: category guidance only

Arduino-compatible and Artemis (Apollo) boards with SparkFun tutorials and Qwiic ecosystem.

BEST-FIT USE CASE

Education, makerspaces, Qwiic sensor wiring for small robots.

KEY SPECS (SUMMARY)

Compatibility
RedBoard Arduino-compatible; Artemis separate toolchain
Ecosystem
Qwiic I2C sensors
Motor I/O
Requires motor driver boards/shields

Price: needs sourced record — verify with supplier

Availability needs live check with supplier before ordering.

SUPPLIER TARGETS

Supplier targets are starting points, not guaranteed sellers or live stock.

SparkFun

Educational MCU line — pair with SparkFun or third-party motor drivers for motion.

VERIFY BEFORE BUYING

  • →Confirm exact model number and revision
  • →Verify voltage, torque/force, and connector against your system
  • →Check supplier stock and shipping live — EAR does not track inventory
  • →Read manufacturer limits before load-bearing use
Official product info ↗

OPEN RESEARCH GAPS

  • RedBoard vs Artemis selection guide link — Motor driver pairing SKUs

REV Robotics Control Hub

REV Robotics·REV Control Hub

Representative record — not an EAR endorsement or buying recommendation.

Source: partially verifiedPrice: needs researchAvailability: limited distributionCompatibility: needs product-specific check

Competition robotics controller used in FTC-style ecosystems — not a general-purpose Arduino replacement.

BEST-FIT USE CASE

FIRST Tech Challenge and compatible competition robot platforms.

KEY SPECS (SUMMARY)

Ecosystem
REV / FTC-oriented I/O and firmware
General ROS
Not a drop-in ROS Linux host
Pairing
REV motor controllers and sensors expected

Price: needs sourced record — verify with supplier

Availability needs live check with supplier before ordering.

SUPPLIER TARGETS

Supplier targets are starting points, not guaranteed sellers or live stock.

REV RoboticsAndyMark

Competition ecosystem controller — verify legal/part rules and REV device compatibility for your league.

VERIFY BEFORE BUYING

  • →Confirm exact model number and revision
  • →Verify voltage, torque/force, and connector against your system
  • →Check supplier stock and shipping live — EAR does not track inventory
  • →Read manufacturer limits before load-bearing use
  • →League legality and firmware version
Official product info ↗

OPEN RESEARCH GAPS

  • Direct Control Hub product URL verification — FTC-specific compatibility doc link